Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-09-29
H.nrrp,s WEEKLY is ona of the ahlest

| HARPERS s w EEkL1 Is OD6 OI TIE dOicoI
free trade papers in the country. Be-
cause Of its free trade opinions 1t broke
loose from the Republican party in 1884.
and since then the party has had no
more vindictive opponent. Recently it
had an elaborate editorial under the
caption "Opening of the Campsigu,'
which is copied approviugly in many
Democratic papers heresbouts. We ask
careful reading of these quotations from
| it
The most significant declaration of the Ohio
Democratic platform is this:
We demand such judicious reduction of the pres
ent burdensome tariff shall result IN producing
revenue sufficient only to meet the expenses OF an
economical administration of government, the pay
ment Of liberal pensions to Union soldiers and
sailors, and the payment of the interest and prlnc
pal of the public debt; and, if necessary, favor
such reduction of internal revenue, except on
liquors, viii prevent the accumulation OF a sur
attempt to abolish the tax on liquors for the pur-
pose of keeping up the present unjust unequal and
olaeToliS tdTi1 system.
1t was assumed that this would force the Re-
publican convention TO some equally explicit de-
claration, and would compel it to state whether,
while vociferously claiming to be the true tenn
perance party, it will propose to go into the
election of next year as free whisky party
But the issue has been lodged in the following
disingenuous fashion:
We are in favor of protective tariff to secure to
American citizens the privilege OF supplying every
article which be produced well in the United
States in other countries and sufficiently TO sup
ply American wants. We denounce the
Ohio Democratic platform of a tariff for revenue
only and which demands an indiscriminate reduc-
ton in all duties imported articles, the effect of
which would be to encourage importatlons; thus
and foreign labor, rather than to our own
1.-THE t0r on liquors remain, tie re0e1asCe tciH
still be redundant, and there must be some reef
from oUer -tdrdtiOn, 0oliict must be fond IN re-
dlSctioa;of the tariff. The Ohio Democratic con-
vention would seem to have led the way in pre-
senting definitely and courageously the tariff
issue, and to have done il in a way that will
command general attention and wide sympathy.
The present protective tariff is enormously high,
and produces an immense surplus.
1t will be observed that in quoting
from the Republican platform, part of
the declaration concerning the tariff is
left out. These are the words, and their
omission is significant:
SucQ IarlH makes u QeulduO tor anu gives
employment to the labor of American citizens,
and thereby aids in securing just compensation
for labor.
The wool growers of Belmont county.
and all the men of the county who are
engaged in the manufacture or produc
ton of articles or materials protected by
tariff duties, as well as all other men
who are interested in building up and
maintaining good towns in the county
or on its borders, will observe that the
gauge is thrown down here in unmistaka-
BILE language. The repeal of the revenue
tax upon liquors and tobacco is objected
to solely for the reason that its renter
ton will force a reduction of tariff da
ties. The assertion that the repeal of
the internal revenue tax upon whisky
would mean free whisky" is unworthy
a paper of the ability and dignity of this
so-ealled journal of Civilization"
Whisky dealers in Ohio pay little tax to
the national government, as compared
with the taxes paid the state. The in
ternal revenue laws tax the saloons of
the county S25, while the state compels
them to pay 5000. The former tax is
not circumstance-not the most insig+
Diicant whisky shop that ever existed
in the county but could pay it from the
profits of few days sales. But not so
the tax imposed by the State. That is
a hindrance and an embarrassment that
has closed scores of them, and other
scores must follow.
Belmont county is peculiarly inter
ested in the maintenance of a protec+
tive tariff The towns of Bellaire,
Bridgeport, and Martins Ferry have
been built up by the great iron and glass
manufactures along the river. Barnes
vile, too is getting to be a manufactu+
ring town of no mean proportions. In
front of us issthe city of Wheeling, with
its $4,000 people, full of great manufac'
tories of iron and glass, and other
things. These towns have an aggregate
population of 10000 people, and furnish
good markets for the farm and garden
products of the county. "If the tGr on liquors
remain, the reUenue ioiU still be redundant,
and there mast be some relief from 00er- tara
ti9r, aolieh must be .t0aind in reduction Of the
tariff" says this great exponent of free trade
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